I just got may Scale Hudson this week end Santa Fe and it is just outstanding. I been running it all day. This is my first steam engine because I am Diesel person but this Hudson might change my mind somewhat to get a few Steamers.

I have heard some good things about the new steam locomotives by Bachmann. They have better smoke output is one thing I have heard. So if I had the money I might be more temped to buy a new WBB steam locomotive.

671 here. I love steamers. The smoke, the rods and the drive wheels. All that motion and sound is intoxicating. My first Williams by Bachmann steamer is the 2056 semi-scale NYC Hudson. I have had it for almost three years now. I power it with a Lionel 275 watt postwar transformer. The loco is so efficient that the Lionel transformer could not be set to a low enough voltage to satisfy my need for a ' Creeping Speed '. Joe Satnik had a great voltage reducing idea using diodes to solve this challenge. I use his idea by placing 4 diodes at the power feed to the electric motor. ( I use a full bridge rectifier and two diodes to accomplish this. ( See Dallee Motor Voltage Drop ). This loco now creeps, smokes super, and allows higher voltage to my passenger car's lighting systems. In closing; I now have in my stable two Scale Hudsons, one Semi-scale Hudson,one S2 Turbine 671, one J 484, and one semi-scale Berkshire. All have been modified with the Joe Satnik diode voltage drop. They all run great. If you are looking to 'Steam Up'. Buy one of the S2 Turbines now on sale at Trainland...$174.99. These S2s are so smooth and powerful. Great, Great Runners. I love mine, I am sure you will be very pleased. Welcome to the smoking side.

Thanks to everyone for the replies and I just might be going over to(smoking side) so more steam engines. I have been running this one now for two days and I seem to always go for the handle to run the Hudson first . I really love the great detail and smooth running of this and all my WBB engines. I have totally gone WBB all the way.

I have a dual setup for power. I use the Z4000 for conventional mode and then flip the toggle switch to go with 180 brick with TPC 3000 and Legacy to run conventional also. I did notice that the smoke is much better going to Legacy because of the chopped sine wave coming out the TPC 3000 unit but I still like my Z4000 handles because I feel more in control. If I do the mode as 671 suggested then I would be get better smoke that way like the chopped sine does.

Thanks again everyone and I really enjoy this forum and the knowledge found here.

Update on my Hudson. I just happen to have a ZW-C transformer so I hooked it up in place of my Z4000 and man she runs and smokes like a beauty. Smooth as silk and smokes great. I just might leave the ZW-C in place for a while.

M1FredQ I knew you had been traveling a lot and great on your sons team winning the championship. Yep I bet you could have gotten some more WBB engines on the gas money you had to spend but it is worth those memories with your son. I understand that gas is going even higher by August. Anyway the Hudson is the Santa Fe one and very hard to find. My hobby shop found one and I jumped on it. As you know I am not a steam person but this might have me doing some smoking units as 671 said earlier in this thread. I really like the Scale size and spokes wheels and this runs so smooth. I did connect up my ZW-C to the track and it smokes and runs even better with the chopped sine wave. Keep us posted on the ball games and catch you later.

Yes, I use the Lionel ZW 275 watt postwar transformer. The starting voltage is actually 7+ volts. I have a MTH 1000 transformer which starts at a much lower voltage and allows the locos to 'Creep speeds'. The undesirable results at these low voltages is No Smoke production, poor lighting in caboose and passenger cars, also inconsistent whistle sounds. The modifying of the power feed to the electric motor with diode dropping circuit ( Joe Satnik ) (Dallee Diode Motor voltage circuit) creates many positive serendipitous results:1. Creeping speeds2. Better and more constant smoke production ( I use Crest smoke fluid add a few drops of Mega Steam smoke to the Crest bottle for aroma ). Great smoke no 'spitting'3. Consistant whistle sounds4. Brighter lighting in all cars and Loco5. Smoother starting and stopping ( less stress to drive gears )6. Cool motor temperatures ( No ill effects to my semi-scale Hudson for 2 1/2 plus years )

The higher track voltage needed to run your trains at a desired speed gives you all of these extra benefits. From my own experience, I know that the smoke/headlamp circuit needs approximately 9+ volts input (Track Voltage ) to achieve its' design output of 7.9 volts. Any lower track voltage results in less than optimal voltage output at the voltage limiting circuit of the smoker/headlamp circuit.

Well everyone I stopped by Radio Shack today and got a Full Wave Bridge Rectifier number 276-1181 8amp and followed the setup from Dallee. Connected the + and - leads together and cut one of the motor leads and connected it to the Bridge Rectifier on the other two leads and WOW does that baby smoke and run great. The start up voltage is now about 2 volts higher which lets the smoke unit work nice and a very slow started. I am using a MTH Z4000 transformer now. I found a nice locations for the Bridge Rectifier in front of the motor on the flat plate and used some double side foam tape to hold it in place. Thanks everyone for the setup.

Thanks Joe for the update. I will do that. I was thinking that the foam tape might dry out and loose its hold so I will do your suggestion. One question I would like your opinion own is that the 8 amp should be enough or should I have gotten a larger one? The 8 amp size just fit on that plate and any larger would be a problem I think. Your thought Please.

8 amp is fine. I have been using that same 8 amp bridge along with two additional 6 amp diodes to create electrically a 4 diode circuit in both electrical flow directions. I like the performance of this "4" diode set-up ( approx 3 volt drop ). I have been using it without fail for almost three years of heavy running. I solder the two extra diodes next to each other between the "Table Legs" of the bridge rectifier. It makes a nice small tight package. This ' Package ' fits into the well below the electrical board within the semi-scale Hudson, the J 484, and the Berkshire locomotive. The S2 Turbine does not have this well. I mounted my bridge and diode package on the Port side (left) of the loco. There is just enough room to mount it on it's edge with the 'table legs' facing the electronic 'E' unit board. In the Scale Hudsons I mounted the bridge package within the tender. I tied into the wire harness that goes to the motor for my connections. The Dallee circuit as printed on their website shows the bridge along with a single diode. I have the bridge rectifier with two additional diodes. I have not used any heat sinking for any of my locos. No problems as of yet. A 6 amp diode has enough capacity. I have measured my locos' amp loads, none have exceeded 4.5 amps on my upgrade pulling a long heavy train. I have also installed a small slide switch to interupt the smoker's circuit. This allows me the option of turning off the smoker. This will extend the 'life' of the smoker. Simple setup, cut one wire on the smoker, solder two small wires with shrink tube. Extend this into the engineers cab, epoxy switch to the inside of the cab out of sight and you are all set.